Attention Spoiler Alert! This article reveals key plot points from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 1, titled “Future Days,”and includes significant information from The Last of Us Part II game. Following a tense encounter with infected creatures, Bella Ramsey, who portrays Ellie, speculates that her character may be grappling with deep-seated emotional challenges. Set during a five-year hiatus between the first and second seasons, Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) have established a life in Jackson, Wyoming. However, Ellie’s past traumas continue to resurface following Joel’s violent actions against the Fireflies at the climax of Season 1, leaving her to wrestle with her unique immunity status.
In an insightful conversation with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley during the South by Southwest film festival, Ramsey elaborated on the psychological toll the bite takes on Ellie. Though Ellie perceives the bite as “more annoying”than distressing, Ramsey emphasizes that the burden it represents is significant. This constant reminder of Joel’s violent past undoubtedly weighs heavily on her. Below is a quote from Ramsey that illustrates these complexities:
ScreenRant: Ellie gets bit again, but now she’s back to hiding it from the outside world because of everything that happened with the Fireflies. What is it like for her to return to that mindset of concealing such a crucial part of her identity?
Bella Ramsey: I think there’s a constant questioning in her head about where season 1 ends. I’m sure getting bit probably brings that up again. I think that it’s just something that she carries and has done her whole life, and I think it’s more annoying than anything to her that she has to hide.
This thing is pretty cool, but also very burdensome. It’s burdensome to be the potential cure. Obviously, that didn’t work out, but to know that she has this thing that she has to keep secret, I think is just a bit annoying more than anything.
The Impact of the Bite on Ellie
Ellie’s History with Bites
While in the game The Last of Us Part II, Ellie experiences her first bite, the live-action adaptation presents a different narrative where this marks Ellie’s third bite. Previously, she sustained her second bite in Season 1 when an infected individual attacked her in front of Joel and Tess (Anna Torv). The recent supermarket incident adds complexity to her ongoing struggle, making concealment from Jackson’s community increasingly challenging. Although the bite is located on her torso, thus somewhat easier to disguise, the fear of exposure remains unavoidable.
Ellie has previously attempted to mask these incidents by using burning techniques or opting for tattoos over the affected areas. Nonetheless, if she continues to show signs like consistent chemical burns, Jackson’s residents may start to question her story. Coupled with the deteriorating bond with Joel, Ellie finds herself without a confidant for her emotional turmoil. Despite her efforts to lead a semblance of a normal life, her unique immunity serves as a constant reminder of her isolation.
Insights on Ellie’s Emotional Battle
Season 2’s Intense Challenges
Essentially, The Last of Us Season 2 delves deeply into Ellie’s relationship with Joel, and the premiere indicates that this connection has been significantly damaged. Previous closeness has transformed into a palpable distrust. In her emotional struggles, Ellie has no one to turn to for support, a profoundly disheartening reality for the young protagonist, who feels isolated even amidst friends. Although this storyline might diverge from the game, it markedly enriches the emotional depth of Ellie’s already tragic narrative.